Chapter 26. Dungeon Double Booking (2)

I slowly scrolled through the details of the trade post. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The client's target was a dungeon near Daejeon Central Road Station. They wanted me to retrieve an artifact from deep inside.

"Daejeon, huh..." I leaned back against the headrest, rummaging through my memories.

"Always wanted to check it out."

Before the world went to hell, I'd seriously considered hopping off there someday, lining up at that famous bakery, and grabbing some bread. Putting it off because it was a hassle now felt like a regret. No way I'd get to taste those now.

Whining about bread in the middle of an apocalypse was pretty pathetic, but it left a pang anyway. I shook off the bitter taste in my mouth and manipulated the control panel, redirecting the train toward Daejeon.

Hiss— As the train gradually picked up speed, the door slid open, and Jiwoo and Sua peeked out. They'd just changed into the kids' clothes I'd given them. Sua's light pink lace dress and Jiwoo's comfy tracksuit with new sneakers fit them perfectly, like they'd always been theirs. Seeing them all fresh and clean brought a smile to my face without me even realizing it.

"You two look great in those outfits."

"Hehe..." They gave awkward smiles at the compliment.

Thud! The train shook lightly with a bang. That usually meant a monster had slammed into it.

"Monster?"

"...Yeah."

They say kids grow up fast. At first, they'd huddle together in terror at the sight of monsters far off outside the window. Now, they stared calmly even when one pressed right up against the glass. They even watched blankly as the train's turrets or spikes shredded the things.

"...Not scared?"

"Huh? Um... nope."

Yeah, growing up strong. Before long, the train entered Daejeon and came to a smooth stop near Central Road Station. That's when I remembered I needed Sua's help again.

"Sua, sis really needs your help this time too. Can you do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it?" I knelt down to her eye level as she toddled over to the cockpit, asking gently.

Blindly charging into a dungeon was dumb. I needed her exploration skill to scout the dangers and layout inside first. For safety's sake.

"Yeah! Just like last time?"

Sua, thrilled in her pretty new dress, nodded eagerly without a hint of hesitation.

"Thanks. I'll have the robots check if it's safe outside first, then we'll go together."

"Okay."

Her skill only triggered if she got right up near the dungeon rift. Before taking her out, I did my usual routine and launched the recon drones first. To pinpoint the exact location and sweep any lurking monster packs.

The upgraded recon drones glided silently like ghosts over Central Road Station, beaming their feeds to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the main monitor. I crossed my arms, watching intently.

But something felt off. Way off.

"...Why's it so quiet?"

The area around Central Road Station on the monitor was eerily still, sending chills down my spine. Dungeons usually crawled with at least a few monsters nearby. Incheon, Siheung—it was always like that. But this street was empty.

"Should be at least one around..."

Even with the expanded range from the upgrade, no monsters showed up. Just the faint whir of the drones.

Zooming in revealed traces—they hadn't been absent from the start. Amid crumbled shop debris and shattered asphalt, monster remnants dotted the ground. Mana stones and drops here and there. The signs grew thicker toward the dungeon entrance along the road.

Someone had already cleared the monsters here.

"Did they beat us to the dungeon?"

The post was still up, so not completed. I frowned, leaning close to the monitor. No monsters on the street was creepy, but it was a perfect window to escort Sua to the entrance.

I took her tiny hand firmly and headed cautiously to the dungeon gate.

"Ready to go, Sua?"

"Yeah!"

Hand in hand, with drone escort, we reached it. At the rift, Sua activated her skill more smoothly this time and read the text aloud.

"Two bosses..."

Low-grade dungeon. One step above lowest. Sua scanned the text, then suddenly tilted her head.

"Huh? Weird... Sis, there are seven people already inside."

First come, first served. A whole party of seven awakeners. Her skill picked up people too, not just monsters. Probably drawn by the same constellation's skill enhancement reward.

"Hmm..." I rubbed my chin, deep in thought.

Did I really want to compete with them? The reward tempted me, but—

"Let's head back for now, Sua."

I got her safely back to the train, then slipped a recon drone stealthily inside. Time for the new eavesdropping and silent flight modes to shine.

Entering the dungeon revealed a dark underground tomb, just as Sua said. Soon, the main monitor caught seven young guys with flashlights.

"That's them."

Their hunt was going smoothly. The leader torched skeleton soldiers and shields with fire skills, while the others smashed them effortlessly with steel pipes and baseball bats. Solid firepower and teamwork—they'd push to the boss room no problem. A massive door wasn't far, per the drone.

Regrettable, but better to skip this one and find another post. I turned from the monitor to search others.

That's when it hit.

"You crazy bastard, what the fu—gahk!"

"Aaaagh!"

A guttural curse and horrific scream blasted through the speakers into the cockpit. Human screams chilled me from the nape to the crown.

I flinched, then turned to the huddling kids. "Jiwoo, take Sua to car 2 and stay there, okay?"

"O-okay..."

I hustled the scared kids to the back, then glared at the monitor. The scene had flipped in seconds. Three down on the floor, the standees looking rough. Not a skeleton ambush—obvious.

"Sh...it... fuuuck...!"

The two guys who'd been at the rear, backs together laughing moments ago, now jammed blades into the necks of their frontline comrades.

"Ugh..."

It hurt to watch. Blood splattering the dungeon floor, betrayed faces, sickening sounds. The drone showed them right at the massive door—the boss room entrance.

Betrayed just before the boss. The fire skill guy, throat gushing, stared up in disbelief at the traitors. The stabber shook off the blood, smirking vilely.

"Bro, you worked hard clearing to the boss room. You know it—constellation's skill enhancement is just one ticket. No way to split it nice with seven."

"So my buddy yielded to me this time. We're real tight."

"...Fuuu..."

The chilling voices froze me solid. They'd used their team to pave the way, then backstabbed for the solo prize.

The two laughed, gripping gleaming knives, closing in on survivors.

Too late to save them. Too much blood lost. Hot rage and disgust surged up.

"This ain't right."

I'd planned to skip, head elsewhere for other gigs. But seeing them bleed out while those scum grinned and cut throats snapped something rational inside.

Can't let psychos like that claim the reward and get stronger.

It slammed my mind. Awakeners who kill without blinking getting powered up? More victims guaranteed. They were monsters themselves.

I killed the panel, shot up, gripped my flail handle. Confidence swelled.

"Combat drone, sniper drone. Escort me."

With cold metallic clicks, the hovering drones locked into battle mode. I kicked open the door and marched to the dungeon entrance.

"Hey, Jeonghun. Hurry and finish, then boss room. Grab the artifact before anyone else shows."

"Obviously."

The two eyed each other over the bloodied floor, agreeing. Jeonghun nodded but inwardly sharpened his blade.

Idiot. After I smash the boss, your neck gets the hole too.

The skinny guy smirked too, fiddling his hidden dagger behind his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back, swallowing dark intent.

Your last moment is when the boss drops. Enhancement's all mine.

Each timed the perfect stab in their heads.